PRESS RELEASE: Over 100 VETERANS FOR TAMMY Announced at Milwaukee Event

Over 100 VETERANS FOR TAMMY Announced at Milwaukee Event

Wisconsin veterans from across the state and every branch of U.S. military back U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin’s bipartisan leadership and stand up against special interest attacks

MILWAUKEE — U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin today announced VETERANS FOR TAMMY, a coalition of over 100 Wisconsin veterans from across the state and every branch of the U.S. military who are backing U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin’s bipartisan leadership to support veterans and standing up to special interest attacks against their health care.

“Our veterans have served and sacrificed so much for our country and as a nation, we owe it to them to make sure they have the care and support they have earned and deserve,” said Tammy Baldwin. “Today, I’m humbled to be joined by so many of our Wisconsin veterans from across the state as we call for continued bipartisan action to support and protect our veterans, our active duty servicemembers and our military families.”

“Tammy Baldwin is working to make sure Wisconsin veterans receive the care they deserve, and as a doctor and veteran I’m proud to stand with her,” said Dr. Kathy Hartke, USAF veteran. “Tammy wrote and fought to pass Jason’s Law, which helps stop the overprescribing of opioids at the VA. And she’s pushing to reform the VA and remove red tape so that a veteran and their doctor are at the center of health care decisions.”

“I know firsthand that Tammy Baldwin is doing right by our veterans. Whether it’s ensuring they have the good health care, community support, or opportunities for good-paying jobs, Tammy Baldwin is fighting for us,” said Bob Hesselbein, USAF Lieutenant Colonel (ret.), Vietnam War helicopter pilot. “As a 28-year military veteran, I know what it takes to get things done. I’ve seen Tammy Baldwin in action and I know she cares about Wisconsin veterans, our issues and priorities and gets things done for us in Washington.”

Over 100 Wisconsinites have joined VETERANS FOR TAMMY to support Tammy Baldwin’s work in the Senate to do right by our veterans and make sure they have the care, community support, and good-paying jobs that they have earned and deserve:

Jason’s Law
Wisconsin U.S. Marine veteran Jason Simcakoski went to the VA to get help, but instead got hooked on prescription drugs and tragically died in 2014. Tammy worked closely with the Simcakoski family, Republicans and Democrats, veterans service organizations, and medical professionals, to write and pass bipartisan legislation known as Jason’s Law.

Jason’s Law holds the VA accountable and is helping stop the overprescribing of opioids at the VA. Jason’s Law is working — recent data shows it has helped the Tomah VA decrease the number of veterans on chronic opioids by 47 percent.

Tammy Baldwin is continuing to work across the aisle to support and strengthen Jason’s Law. Just this week, Baldwin successfully secured $52 million in bipartisan appropriations legislation to fully implement Jason’s Law in VAs nationwide.

Improving Veterans’ Care
As veterans face some of the most complex health challenges, Tammy Baldwin has worked across party lines to make sure they receive the best care possible, whether they seek care at the VA or out in their community.

Working with Republicans and Democrats, Tammy Baldwin passed legislation that cuts the VA’s unacceptable appeals backlog and helps our veterans get back to living their lives. And Tammy has stood up to efforts backed by powerful special interests to privatize the VA and put profits ahead of our veterans’ care.

Tammy Baldwin also supported the bipartisan VA MISSION Act, which was signed into law by President Trump this year. This major veterans care law will help fix the broken VA Choice program, remove burdensome regulations, and put a veteran and their doctor at the center of health care decisions. The legislation also included important reforms from Baldwin that will protect veterans receiving care in the VA or in their communities.

Creating Good-Paying Jobs and Strengthening Veterans’ Support
Tammy Baldwin is working to make sure that when our veterans return home, they have the good paying jobs and community support that they need. Tammy introduced the BRAVE Act — bipartisan legislation that reduces the unemployment rate for veterans and creates more full-time jobs for them.

Standing up for our military families, Tammy has worked to protect our active duty servicemembers from unfair eviction, exploitative debt collection practices, and other fraudulent schemes.

When Wisconsin failed to qualify for funding for homeless veterans programs in 2017, Tammy quickly organized a bipartisan effort to reverse the cuts and successfully saved the homeless veterans programs.